The latest Sandy Bridge-E 6 core processors have just been released, to excellent reviews. However, the architecture is designed for 8 cores, so these current i7-3960X & i7-3930K processors actually contain those 8 cores, but with two turned off in order to enable them to fit within a manageable 130 W power envelope. Hence there's quite a bit more potential to be released and soon. Therefore, anyone looking to invest in the premium-priced SB-E platform right now, should note that these processors are at the initial C1 stepping and have the VT-d hardware virtualization issue and PCI-E 3.0 compatibility uncertainty. The VT-d problem will be a real show stopper where hardware acceleration of a virtual machine is a must, so it shouldn't be ignored.

VR-ZONE brings us news that the fully unlocked SB-E 8 core chips will be released as the long awaited Xeon E5 family of processors, which will be built on the C2 stepping, solving the above issues. However, being 8 core, these will be very power hungry indeed, consuming around 150 W at just 3 GHz with all 8 cores active and 20 MB of L3 cache. At 2.5 GHz though, the new processors are expected to fit within the 95 W power envelope.

Being "Xeon" processors, they are primarily intended to be used in multi-socket configurations in servers and very high end desktops for businesses that need this kind of raw power. Of course, the other market that these E5 processors are aimed at, are the hardcore PC enthusiasts who have very deep pockets and want the ultimate power in their desktops at any price. It's rumoured that such people might be using these powerhouse systems for more than just playing Sudoku, doing a bit of word processing and browsing the internet, but these are unconfirmed at the time of publication.

Later on in 2012, Ivy Bridge-E is expected to be released, which will be an optical shrink of SB-E, while also using Intel's new 22 nm tri-gate transistors. This will bring significant performance improvements, including an increase to 10 cores and 25 MB L3 cache. TechPowerUp has more details on this generation, here. So, with these new high wattage processors eventually becoming more mainstream, could we see the return of the ill-fated BTX (Balanced Technology Extended) form factor case, introduced by Intel around seven years ago? Only time will tell.

For more detail on these SB-E & IB-E processors, hop on over to VR-ZONE.

[quote="Arstechnica]Update: Intel's Ark site was updated after publication to include the new processors and it says that they do in fact support VT-d, which means that Intel has managed to get the (fixed) C2 stepping out in time after all.[/quote]Any official news on VT-d from Intel? I saw Ark and the hopeful assumption from Ars last night.

[QUOTE=btarunr, post: 2459361"]No, these are not enthusiast products. These are 2P server/WS.[/quote]Bah. All titles that people attach far too much meaning. As if somehow I would be someone different if I used SB-EP or a 16-core Interlagos in my system.

by: JizzlerBah. All titles that people attach far too much meaning. As if somehow I would be someone different if I used SB-EP or a 16-core Interlagos in my system.

You may, just don't expect it to overclock/tweak for nuts, unless you want to pin-mod. Calling Sandy Bridge-EP an enthusiast platform (which it's not), implies that you can tweak it like one (which you can't).

I know someone who spent about $8000 on building essentially a 4P Opteron server just about 18 months ago, to use as a desktop/WS. Sadly for him, today's Sandy Bridge LGA1155 systems are faster.

So I guess that's how they expect 2011 to fight off 1150 and it's IPC advancements in a years time.

by: btarunrNo, these are not enthusiast products. These are 2P server/WS.

No kidding. Configuring a 2011 build on newegg was sickening. Nothing quite like spending more than twice as much money for occasionally better performance on an incomplete platform. To boot the VT issue makes it worthless for a lot of servers too. This has been the most pointless platform to date and I can only hope enthusiasts shun it. Dividing the consumer platforms to create an artificial price barrier was a sucky idea and the only way it'll sink in is with financial failure.

An 8-core 32nm chip's success in the desktop market will definitely depend on turbo modes. It might only hit 2.5GHz with all cores active, but if it hits ~3.5GHz with 4 cores active and ~4GHz with 2 or fewer cores active, then it will be a great chip.

by: btarunrYou may, just don't expect it to overclock/tweak for nuts, unless you want to pin-mod. Calling Sandy Bridge-EP an enthusiast platform (which it's not), implies that you can tweak it like one (which you can't).

I know someone who spent about $8000 on building essentially a 4P Opteron server just about 18 months ago, to use as a desktop/WS. Sadly for him, today's Sandy Bridge LGA1155 systems are faster.

I don't expect anything - that's the point. :D

"Enthusiast" and the rest are meaningless titles as they only imply, and weakly do so. No feature, ability, etc, is a certainty. Qubit calling it an enthusiast platform and you calling it server/WS has not changed any facts about it.

Don't understand why you're sad for him, he built it 18 months ago and has had all that time to use it. Even with it's age I could find good use for a 4P Opteron today. My dual (Prestonia, now very old) Xeon boxes saw many years of use before their power usage outweighed operational usefulness.

by: btarunrNo, these are not enthusiast products. These are 2P server/WS.

Who says they can't be? All it needs is an unlocked multi to fly away. Even if they gave it to a faster chip, considering you managed to cool it well, it might OC further than what it's desktop equivalent does. Like I said, Xeon's owned up until Sandy. If they kept the multi locked again, shame on them. If not (Sandy-E) Xeon's can slightly change people's idea on this platform.

by: John DoeWho says they can't be? All it needs is an unlocked multi to fly away.

Find me a Xeon with unlocked multi.

by: Jizzler"Enthusiast" and the rest are meaningless titles as they only imply, and weakly do so. No feature, ability, etc, is a certainty. Qubit calling it an enthusiast platform and you calling it server/WS has not changed any facts about it.

My definition of "enthusiast platform" is in line with Intel's. And 2P Romley does not count for one. At best, it counts for a mission-critical workstation platform. At worst, a poor company's main server.

You wouldn't find one because they (Westmere's) went by high bins to stay under 80W TDP. The E5640 for example costs $800 although it's an i7 920 in a 4-core Gulftown dress. Now that was an issue with lower end chips (like E5620) and low bCLK mobo's on X58. BUT, mobo's like the Classy 4-way went through it on higher bLCK's. High-end 6 core Westmere's were based on Gulftown, had higher multi's and OC'ed very well up to 4.5-5 Ghz.

Now was all on X58. They gimped Sandy Xeon's with locked multi, but you have to keep in mind these are the top-end. They're the Extreme of Xeon's. So there's a chance multi may have been unlocked. I'm hoping for it though. And I'd also keep turbo in mind. These chips ARE interesting in one way or another.

by: John DoeYou wouldn't find one because they (Westmere's) went by high bins to stay under 80W TDP. The E5640 for example costs $800 although it's an i7 920 in a 4-core Gulftown dress. Now that was an issue with lower end chips (like E5620) and low bCLK mobo's on X58. BUT, mobo's like the Classy 4-way went through it on higher bLCK's. High-end 6 core Westmere's were based on Gulftown and OC'ed very well up to 4.5-5 Ghz.

That was all on X58 though. They gimped Sandy Xeon's with locked multi, but you have to keep in mind these are the top-end. They're the Extreme of Xeon's. So there's a chance multi may have been unlocked. I'm hoping for it though.

Thanks for backing up my contention. Xeon is never meant to be an enthusiast processor. You'll never find a 2P Xeon with features like unlocked multiplier.

by: btarunrThanks for backing up my contention. Xeon is never meant to be an enthusiast processor. You'll never find a 2P Xeon with features like unlocked multiplier.

Yes, they were. Xeon equivalents of i7 920 and Yorkfield chips were made with enthuasiests in mind. They cost more due to their better batch, and many OC'ers went by them. You aren't understanding how things work here. Intel is looking for money. If they can punch through one or two from Xeon's, give me a reason to pointlessly lock them down. Alright, lock Sandy down, but not Sandy-E. Make it $1000; and compatible with desktop boards (they technically are based on the same die) with an unlocked multi. People will buy it. Hell, idiots still buy SR-2's with Xeon's to OC and game over eVGA.

I have to agree with btarunr on this one, the title to this thread isn't entirely accurate, although the SR-3 might be an exception to the rule, these CPUs are not targeted to enthusiasts, but to work on a workstation/server configuration, not even Intel has ever referred to Xeons as enthusiast processors, even though a select few use these processors at home.

Missing features like VT-D are seldomly used by enthusiasts, and won't be missed so much for desktop SB-E processors, and Intel has mentioned that current desktop SB-E are fully PCI-E 3.0 capable, but there's simply no hardware to certify this feature at the moment, so this is a non issue.

Yes, current C1 SB-E processors are just Xeons with some features disabled, but C2 processors are not Intel's next enthusiast CPUs, IB-E processors to be released in Q4 2012 are going to be marketed by Intel to serve this particular bracket.

by: 15th WarlockI have to agree with btarunr on this one, the title to this thread isn't entirely accurate, although the SR-3 might be an exception to the rule, these CPUs are not targeted to enthusiasts, but to work on a workstation/server configuration, not even Intel has ever referred to Xeons as enthusiast processors, even though a select few use these processors at home.

Which exception? It's not like eVGA is getting special treatment from Intel...

for a fact, their late offerings have been a joke in regards to quality and/or performance with decade old Copper ring-choke's. After having lost Shamino and rest of the crew, they haven't done anything at all. They're wiping the floors (as a small company as well) and nobody cares. Except for fanboys on their forum, whom I got banned for. Obviously suggesting people Twin-Frozr's and constantly bashing them wasn't a good idea. lol. But that's another story.

That said, the SR-3 can't OC on it's own. It needs unlocked multi's. Not a "single or dual-QPI?" situation like it was with X58. If it technically can OC, then a desktop board that supports the chip (like on X58) would OC as well.

by: John DoeWhich exception? It's not like eVGA is getting special treatment from Intel...

I don't get your point, the SR-3 is clearly being marketed as an enthusiast board, that will support two server/workstation processors (namely SB-EP Xeons), it's not being marketed as a server/workstation board, hence I referred to it as an exception.

As for the quality of EVGA's motherboards, I have never bought one of their boards, I still have an old GTX285 rocking in my HTPC, but I cannot vouch for the quality of their more recent graphic cards either, I didn't know their products were known because of their low quality... :ohwell:

EDIT:

by: Efraimand where's qubit to show his argument on whether this should be called an enthusiast proc. or not?

Server proc. with VT-d broken?
Doesnt seem so visibly smart to me.
still powerful,but not stable enough for what they're aiming this proc. for.

VT-d won't be broken on the C2 Stepping SB-EP Xeon server processors, I thought that was clear in this article :wtf: